Latching block for connecting casing sections of an administering apparatus

Abstract

An administering apparatus for delivering a dosage of product including a casing with a reservoir for the product, a piston within the reservoir to deliver the product, a piston rod for engaging the piston, a drive device for driving the piston rod, and a dosage setting member mechanically engaging the piston rod and a stopper for the dosage setting member. The casing includes a front casing section containing a reservoir for the product and a rear casing section detachably connected to the front casing section. The front casing section is connected to or forms a first latching element, and the rear casing section is connected to or forms a second latching element. The latching elements are in latching engagement when the casing sections are connected. The casing sections may be axially fixed to one another by the latching engagement. The casing sections may alternately be fixed to one another, secured against rotating, with respect to a rotational movement about a longitudinal axis of the casing sections parallel to the advancing direction, by the latching engagement. The administering apparatus further includes a latching block coupled to the drive element such that the latching engagement can only be released in a releasing position of the drive element.

1. An administering apparatus, comprising:
 a) a front casing section comprising a reservoir for a product which can be delivered and a first latching element; 
 b) a piston which is accommodated in said reservoir such that it can shift in an advancing direction towards a reservoir outlet to deliver product; 
 c) a piston rod; 
 d) a rear casing section comprising a second latching element which engages with said first latching element to detachably connect the front and rear casing sections; 
 e) a drive element which is mounted by said rear casing section such that it can move in and counter to the advancing direction and which acts on said piston rod during a delivery movement in the advancing direction to move said piston in the advancing direction; 
 f) and a latching block coupled to said drive element, said latching block comprising a blocking element wherein the blocking element comprises an axially extending body comprising a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a stay projecting at about right angles from the body, the second end comprising a fork around an axial recess, said fork comprising two blocking tongues, and two indentation recesses opposite each other on either side of the second end, wherein the blocking element prevents detachment of the second latching element from the first latching element during delivery of the product until the drive element reaches a releasing position wherein the longitudinally sliding recess is aligned to permit movement of the second latching element into the longitudinally sliding recess to enable detachment of the second latching element from the first latching element. 
 
   
   
     2. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second latching elements is connected to its corresponding casing section such that it can move in a direction transverse to the advancing direction, in order to establish and release the latching engagement. 
   
   
     3. The administering apparatus as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the second latching element can be moved in a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus. 
   
   
     4. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second latching element has to be activated, in order to release the latching engagement in the releasing position of the drive element. 
   
   
     5. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the second latching element is connected to an unlatching button that enables detachment of the second latching element from the first latching element when the drive mechanism is in the releasing position. 
   
   
     6. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the front casing section and the rear casing section are fixed to each other in and counter to the advancing direction by the latching elements in latching engagement. 
   
   
     7. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein engagement of the second latching element in the first latching element prevents rotational movement between the front and rear casing sections. 
   
   
     8. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second latching elements is arranged on the rear casing section such that it can move in and out of latching engagement with the first latching element, and a restoring means acts elastically on the second latching element, in order to prevent the latching engagement from releasing by itself. 
   
   
     9. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the blocking element and the drive element are coupled such that the drive element slaves said blocking element during the delivery movement. 
   
   
     10. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the blocking element can be moved transverse to a direction in which one of the latching elements has to be moved in order to release the latching engagement. 
   
   
     11. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the drive element and the blocking element cannot be moved in and counter to the advancing direction, relative to each other. 
   
   
     12. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein at least one indentation recess only overlaps the second latching element in the releasing position of the drive element, such that said second latching element can be moved at least partially into said indentation recess, in order to release the latching engagement. 
   
   
     13. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the administering apparatus comprises a dosage setting member which is in dosing engagement with the piston rod, such that it is moved relative to the piston rod in a dosing movement for selecting a product dosage, and moved jointly with the piston rod in the advancing direction relative to the front casing section in a delivery movement for delivering the product. 
   
   
     14. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said dosage setting member abuts against a delivery stopper of the front casing section in the advancing direction, said delivery stopper limiting the delivery movement in the advancing direction. 
   
   
     15. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the drive element pushes against the dosage setting member during its delivery movement and thus slaves the piston rod. 
   
   
     16. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the administering apparatus comprises a dosage setting member which engages with the piston rod such that it can move counter to the advancing direction relative to the front casing section and the piston rod for selecting a product dosage, and moved jointly with the piston rod in the advancing direction relative to the front casing section for delivering the product. 
   
   
     17. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive element is mounted by the rear casing section such that it can also perform a dosing movement, and is coupled to the piston rod such that it slaves the piston rod during the dosing movement. 
   
   
     18. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a blocking means is provided which engages with the piston rod in order to prevent the piston rod from moving counter to the advancing direction. 
   
   
     19. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a blocking means is provided which is in a braking engagement with the piston rod which makes it more difficult for the piston rod to move in the advancing direction. 
   
   
     20. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the front casing section comprises a reservoir part containing the reservoir and a mechanism holder which is connected to said reservoir part such that it cannot be moved relative to the reservoir part with respect to the advancing direction, and which holds the piston rod and comprises the first latching element. 
   
   
     21. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a cannula of at most 30 gauge or a cannula outside the size specified in ISO 9626 having an outer diameter of a 30 gauge cannula at most, forms an infusing part of the administering apparatus. 
   
   
     22. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said cannula is a 31 or 32 gauge cannula. 
   
   
     23. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the piston rod is held by a mechanism holder, secured against rotating. 
   
   
     24. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a dosage setting member which completes a rotational dosing movement and a translational dosing movement relative to the front casing section during dosing, while the piston rod remains stationary during the dosing movement. 
   
   
     25. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the axial recess forms a slot between the two blocking tongues. 
   
   
     26. A drive device for an administering apparatus, which can be detachably connected to a reservoir module of said administering apparatus, wherein said reservoir module comprises a reservoir for a product which can be delivered and a piston accommodated in said reservoir such that it can shift in an advancing direction to deliver the product, said drive device comprising:
 a) a rear casing section of the administering apparatus which can be connected to the reservoir module, and a latching element for establishing a latching engagement with the reservoir module; 
 b) a drive element which is mounted by said rear casing section such that it can move back and forth in a longitudinal direction; 
 c) and a blocking slider comprising a generally thin, flat main body, which extends axially, the main body comprising a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a stay, which fastens the blocking slider to the drive element, the stay projecting at about right angles from the main body, the second end comprising a fork around an axial recess, said fork comprising at least two blocking tongues, and two indentation recesses positioned closer to the first end than the blocking tongues, wherein the blocking slider prevents detachment of the latching element during delivery of the product until the drive element reaches a releasing position wherein the longitudinally sliding recess is aligned to permit movement of the latching element into the longitudinally sliding recess to enable detachment of the latching element. 
 
   
   
     27. The drive device of  claim 26 , wherein a dosage setting member is in dosing engagement with the piston and configured for a dosing movement relative to the piston to select a product dosage, the dosage setting member further being configured for a joint delivery movement with the piston in the advancing direction relative to the reservoir module to deliver the product. 
   
   
     28. The drive device of  claim 27 , further including a delivery stopper, the dosage setting member abutting against the delivery stopper during delivery movement in the advancing direction, the delivery stopper thus limiting the delivery movement. 
   
   
     29. An administering apparatus, comprising:
 a front casing section comprising a reservoir for a product which can be delivered and a first latching groove; 
 a piston which is accommodated in said reservoir such that it can shift in an advancing direction towards a reservoir outlet, in order to deliver product; 
 a piston rod; 
 a rear casing section comprising a second latching element that engages with the first latching groove to detachably connect the front and rear casing sections; 
 a drive element mounted by said rear casing section such that it can move in and counter to the advancing direction and act on the piston rod during a delivery movement in the advancing direction to move the piston in the advancing direction; and 
 a latching block coupled to the drive element, the latching block comprising a blocking element comprising an axially extending thin main body comprising a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a stay which fastens the blocking element to the drive element, the stay projecting generally perpendicularly from the main body, the second end comprising two blocking tongues and a longitudinally sliding recess, wherein the blocking element prevents detachment of the second latching element from the first latching groove during delivery of the product until the drive element reaches a releasing position wherein the longitudinally sliding recess is aligned to permit movement of the second latching element into the longitudinally sliding recess to enable detachment of the second latching element from the first latching groove. 
 
   
   
     30. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the piston rod is held by a mechanism holder, secured against rotating. 
   
   
     31. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , further comprising a dosage setting member which completes a rotational dosing movement and a translational dosing movement relative to the front casing section during dosing, while the piston rod remains stationary during the dosing movement. 
   
   
     32. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the longitudinally sliding recess forms a slot between the two blocking tongues. 
   
   
     33. An administering apparatus, comprising:
 a) a front casing section comprising a reservoir for a product which can be delivered and a first latching element; 
 b) a piston accommodated in said reservoir such that it can shift in an advancing direction towards a reservoir outlet to deliver product; 
 c) a piston rod; 
 d) a rear casing section comprising a second latching element which engages with said first latching element to detachably connect the front and rear casing sections; 
 e) a drive element carried by said rear casing section such that it can move in and counter to the advancing direction and which acts on said piston rod during a delivery movement in the advancing direction to move said piston in the advancing direction; and 
 f) a latching block coupled to said drive element, said latching block comprising an axially extending blocking element wherein the blocking element comprises a thin piece of material comprising a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a stay which fastens the blocking element to the drive element, the stay projecting generally perpendicularly from the thin piece of material between two annular stays axially spaced on an outer surface of the drive element, the second end comprising at least one indentation recess, at least one blocking tongue and an axial recess, wherein the blocking element prevents detachment of the second latching element from the first latching element during delivery of the product until the drive element reaches a releasing position wherein the axial recess is aligned to permit movement of the second latching element into the axial recess to enable detachment of the second latching element from the first latching element. 
 
   
   
     34. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the axial recess forms a slot between two blocking tongues. 
   
   
     35. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the piston rod is held by a mechanism holder, secured against rotating. 
   
   
     36. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the blocking element is generally plate-shaped. 
   
   
     37. The administering apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , further comprising a dosage setting member which completes a rotational dosing movement and a translational dosing movement relative to the front casing section during dosing, while the piston rod remains stationary during the dosing movement.